Abstract:
Background : Atopic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis and eczema in children are major
public health problems in developed, industrialized countries as well as in some
developing countries. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of atopic diseases in
schoolchildren in grade 5 in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.
Method : Schoolchildren in grade 5 were selected by stratified - random sampling frbm
17 schools in the Western Province. Internationally validated ISAAC (International Study
of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire, filled by the parent or guardian was
used to collect details regarding atopic diseases.
Results : A total of 640 schoolchildren were recruited. Five hundred ~nd eleven (79.8%)
returned the completed questionnaire. The mean age was I 0 years (SD ± 0.3) and 55.9%
of the study population was boys. Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema was 17%,
21.4% and 5% respectively, while 33.7% had one or more diseases, Thirty three (21.4%)
of the children with an atopic disease was on long term treatment. Only the prevalence of
allergic rhinitis showed a statistically significant difference between the two sexes, being
more common in boys. Less than 30% of affected children's parents recognized that their
child had either asthma or rhinitis, whereas a higher number of parents (54.2%)
recognized that their child had eczema. Among children with asthma, 44.4% had rhinitis
and wheezing was severe enough to disturb their sleep in 52.4% of children.
Conclusion: One in 3 children in grade 5 had either asthma or rhinitis or eczema, but
parental recognition of these conditions was poor. Atopic diseases are a significant health
problem among schoolchildren in the Western Province.
Description:
Annual Research Symposium Abstracts, FGS, University of Kelaniya, 19 December, 2007, Kelaniya
